Westchase Kids Activities:
Keeping the Little Ones Busy
By Lucy Jones, Resident of Chelmsford |
The signs of spring
are clear – from fields full of flocks of robins to fields full of
flocks of children, chasing, kicking, and hitting balls of various
shapes and sizes. And it’s all with the wholehearted blessing of their
parents. Organized youth sports are quite popular with Westchase
families, as are other group activities such as Scouts. Where do you go
to get the kids involved? This month, WOW offers a primer on the
Westchase not-for-profit organizations that will help you keep the kids
active.
Keystone Little League’s 2008 baseball and softball season for boys and
girls started Feb. 23 at Ed Radice Park with a parachute demonstration
and a pitch, hit and run competition. Keystone Little League includes
more than 700 kids on 64 teams, coached and organized by 180 volunteers.
Last year the Keystone Little League’s 10 and 11-year-old Girls All Star
Team won the state championship. For more information on how to
volunteer or register, visit KLL’s Web site at
www.keystonelittleleague.org. For more information about Little
League in general, visit
www.littleleague.org.
The Town N County Pony League teams have already started their spring
2008 season. Regulation games will continue through May and tournaments
will follow. This group offers baseball programs for kids ages 4 through
16. More information is available through the Florida Pony Baseball Web
site,
www.floridaponybaseball.com.
| Westchase
Colts Football offers football and cheerleading programs for
boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 14. Activities include
flag football; Pee Wee, Super Midget, Midget and Varsity
football and cheerleading; and Mighty Mite cheerleading.
Registration for the 2008 season is coming up soon on March 29.
Check their Web site,
www.westchasecolts.com, for more details. For registration
information e-mail Cheryl Neel at
registrar@westchasecolts.com. The Colts are part of the
Tampa Bay Youth Football League
|
Westchase Colts football
players and cheerleaders celebrate a championship 2007 season.
Photo courtesy of James Broome. |
| (www.tbyfl.com).
In 2007, the Westchase Colts were the league’s Super Midget
Football Champs and the Pee Wee and Super Midget Cheerleading
Grand Champions. |
Registration for
Flag4Kids’ Spring 2008 flag football ended in early February, but you
can find out more about the group at their Web site, www.flag4kids.net.
They offer co-ed non-contact flag football for kids ages 5 through 15.
Games are played on Saturdays at Davidsen Middle School.
The Westchase Soccer Association is a non-profit, volunteer-run
organization that provides opportunities for children ages 3½ to 12 to
participate in recreational soccer programs. These young soccer
aficionados play and practice at several different fields, including one
at Westchase’s Glencliff Park and at the Westchase Recreation Center.
The year is broken into two seasons, spring and fall, each approximately
10 weeks long. All kids get a chance to play, as the emphasis is on
participation rather than championships. All players receive a trophy at
the end of the season. For more information on dates and registration,
visit their Web site at
www.westchasesoccer.org.
|
The U5 Wildcats, one of
Westchase Soccer Association’s co-ed teams, take the field last
fall. |
The
Westchase branch of Tampa Bay Aquatics, a USA
Swimming-registered program, practices at the Westchase Swim and
Tennis Center. The team offers instruction and training to all
abilities and ages, including 10 years and under, 11 to 14
years, and high school and up. For more information about the
program or to learn how to join, visit the Tampa Bay Aquatics
Web site at
www.tampabayaquatics.com, or e-mail Kelley Allen at
kah2o@aol.com.
|
Girl
Scouts offer programs for girls between the ages of 5 and 18.
Westchase belongs to the Coacoochee Service Unit. New troops
typically form just before or right when the school year begins.
With Daisies (Kindergarten), Brownies (Grades 1 through 3),
Juniors (Grades 4 through 6), Cadets (Grades 4 through 6), and
Seniors (Grades 10 through 12), the Girl Scouts offer girls
non-traditional learning opportunities, leadership training and
fun with other kids their own age with similar interests. To
learn how to join other Girl Scouts in Westchase or acquire more
information about Scouting contact the Coacoochee Service Unit
Manager, Lisa Fraser, at
frazel60@yahoo.com, or visit the Girl Scouts of West Central
Florida’s Web site at
www.gswcf.org.
|
| The
Westchase area has one of the largest contingents of Boy Scouts
in Hillsborough County, so Troop 46 offers something for all
boys and young men of all ages. The Cub Scouts (which includes
Tiger, Cub, Wolf, Bear, and Webelo Scouts) are for ages 7
through 10, and offer fieldtrips, crafts, family camping trips,
and the annual Pinewood Derby, where boys compete to |
| make the
fastest car from a block of wood. Boy Scouts, ages 11 through
17, also participate in camping and outdoor activities, as well
as enjoy leadership opportunities. For young men and women ages
14 and 20, the Boy Scouts offer Venturing; Sea Scouts are a
specialized group within Venturing that focuses on boating
skills. Each fall the Cub Scouts hold round-ups at local
elementary schools to recruit new members, but you can join any
time of the year. Just call the Gulf Ridge Council at 872-2691
to find the nearest group for your child’s age and interest
level. You can also visit their Web site,
www.boyscouting.com.
Although
both Boy Scout and Girl Scout activities taper off in the late
spring
|
Scout Troop 46 gathered
at Westchase Elementary for their Pinewood Derby in February. |
towards
the end of the school year, these organizations offer summer
camps and activities that allow boys and girls to try new
outdoor activities and explore the world. For the Girl Scouts,
the 2008 summer schedule is available on their Web site,
www.gswcf.org.
For information about Boy Scout summer outdoor programs, click
on your child’s age group in the left hand column at
www.boyscouting.com/outdoor.php.
These are just a few of the youth sport and activity
organizations enjoyed by Westchase’s kids. If your
not-for-profit group has been inadvertently omitted, please
consider submitting a story about your organization to World of
Westchase’s Kids’ Stuff pages, a monthly feature of this
magazine. Photos are always welcome!
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